RCMP receiving fewer calls for service in Air Ronge

The number of calls for service to the La Ronge RCMP by Air Ronge residents is dropping.

That’s according to Sgt. Josh Hallett, who provided an update of what officers have planned for 2018 at an Air Ronge community meeting Monday. Between January and May of this year, he said there were 205 calls for service, compared to 252 over the same period in 2017. Last month, Hallett said there were 41 calls for service from Air Ronge, 290 from La Ronge, and 270 calls from Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

“We’re seeing a bit of a decrease in our calls for service and, essentially, crime,” he said. “That’s pretty common with what we’ve seen in La Ronge this past year.”

Many of the calls coming from Air Ronge are for traffic, mischief, and false alarms, Hallett said. This spring, he noted there was also a spike in vehicle vandalism and break-and-enters in the tri-communities.

Hallett also talked about the upcoming arrival of new Staff Sgt. Kyle Watson, who starts at the local detachment June 25. He’s coming to La Ronge from Deschambault Lake, and Hallett said that leaves one constable position left vacant. Currently, there are 25 officers working at the detachment.

“We have a member coming into our crime reduction position and that’s something that’s been vacant for just about four years,” Hallett said. “It will involve him targeting and working with some of most prolific offenders in the community.”

In anticipation for the upcoming Elks Fair July 20-22, Hallett said arrangements have been made to have extra officers come to town and strictly monitor the site. He said the Elks Fair is typically one of the detachment’s busiest weekends, and they want to be proactive by having members interacting with the crowds.

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